Washington D.C. court reviews Texas redistricting map

By Joe Farias

Published 1:01 am, Thursday, October 6, 2011

While 89 percent of Texas population growth in the past decade was non-Anglo, many argue that the redistricting plan passed by the majority party and signed by Gov. Rick Perry reduces the number of effective districts where Hispanic, African American and Asian voters can elect their candidate of choice.

Many believe that the maps divided communities and violated the Voting Rights Act. The fight for these allegations continues with several lawsuits being filed.

Most of the action will take place in San Antonio. Three of the federal cases have already been consolidated into one.

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The trial for the consolidated cases began at the federal court in San Antonio Sept. 6. Additionally, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott sued the Dept. of Justice in front of a three-judge panel in Washington, D.C.

Abbott is asking for a judgment in favor of the plans passed through the Legislature. Abbott states that the plans should be granted pre-clearance because they do not violate Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

As ordered by the Washington D.C. panel, Sept. 24, 2011, the Justice Department filed a list of state house and congressional districts that they contend violate or may violate section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

Those districts include Congressional Districts 23 and 27 and in the Texas House, Districts 33, 35, 41, 149, and 117, which is currently represented by State Rep. John Garza in Bexar County.

Right now, the San Antonio panel is deciding whether they should rule on the claims that were tried before it or wait until a ruling in the state's pre-clearance suit in Washington.

Until the final lines are drawn for House District 117, the boundaries for House District 118, its neighboring district currently represented by State Rep. Joe Farias, will not be finalized due to the Justice Department's issues with House District 117.

This is due to some areas in House District 117 which may end up in House District 118 or vice versa, all of which depend on the court's final ruling on the Texas House map.

Joe Farias is the state representative for District 118, which includes large parts of South San Antonio and stretches north to Schertz.